Footnotes and Witness

We are going to try a whole NEW format- going through an entire book of the Bible together- the book of John.

Each week I will release the chapter, read in its entirety, and then in a separate episode, the chapter study. That way you can use whatever resource you prefer to read the chapter. I prefer to read chapters in a text Bible, real paper and ink. If I am trying to read the entire book at once, I prefer to have it read to me. This way, you can skip the reading of the chapters entirely if you would like or have the chapters read to you in a convenient way of having it in the same podcast as the study.

The study episodes are based on the understanding that you will read or listen to the chapter before the study episode. Each chapter reading will be an odd episode number (1,3,5...) and each study episode would then be an even number (2,4,6...).

I will also be posting pictures of my own notes on social media if that is of any help. Link are below:
Website:
https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/
TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@deborahjmckenzie?_t=8ZMwesaCdA6&_r=1
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/footnotesandwitness/
Facebook
footnotes and witness podcast 

Welcome to the BONUS episode! The Lord's Prayer. Maybe you know it, can recite it by heart, maybe you have never heard it. Either way, old friend or new idea, it is worth taking a minute to really look at what this prayer is. The simple lines speak volumes about God and who He is. Jesus taught us to pray this prayer to give us a simple way to remember how to deepen our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It gives back in spades when we listen and intently pray. If you pray this without intention or emotion, it has become habit. I invite you to look anew at what Jesus has for us in prayer:

Our Father Who Is In Heaven- Acknowledging 
Thank Him for being your Father (psalm 139: 13-18)
Thank Him for adopting you into His Family through the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15-17)

Hallowed Be Your Name - Praising

Declare the Names of God out loud:

• Jehovah- Jireh God Provider (Gen 22:14)
• Jehovah - Rophe God Healer (Exodus 15:26)
• Jehovah - Nissi God is my Banner (Exodus 17:15)
• Jehovah - Shalom God is our Peace (Judges 6:24)
• Jehovah - Rohi God is my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
• Jehovah - Tsidkenu God is our Righteousness (Jer 23:6)
• Jehovah - Shammah God is Here (Ezekiel 48:35)

Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done - Surrender
Pray this phrase over

• yourself 
• your family
• your sphere of influence
• your church
• nation, city, nations of the earth

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread - Receive

• Pray for provision physically, emotionally, financially, and in relationships
• Pray over your day in specific details 
• Pray to abide in God in every situation

Forgive Us Our Debts As We Forgive Our Debtors- Repent

• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any area of sin, confess and receive forgiveness 
• Is there anyone you need to forgive from the heart?
• Is there anyone you need to make things right with emotionally, relationally, financially? (Eph 4:32)

Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil - Protection

• Pray and build a wall of protection (Romans 12:1-2)
• a mind that is renewed with God’s word
• eyes that are clean and clear
• ears that hear God and listen to others 
• hands to heal and give
• a disciplined heart of trust
• feet that walk towards holiness in all things

For Yours Is The Kingdom And The Power And The Glory Forever - Rest
Declare again His greatness and your submission to Him and His will (Colossians 1:13-18)

my website:
https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

Join me in the season ending interview with my husband Mike McKenzie! How have you seen the random details in scripture? Do you feel better equipped to find God in them?

https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

Have you ever noticed that certain numbers in the Bible repeat? The number 7 and 40 are found in numerous places. What are we to glean from this repetition of numbers? Is numerology a study that should be applied to the Bible? 

The most important question,  of course is not answered in being in awe of numbers but of the creator! 

We are rounding out the season of random things in the Bible with looking at these questions. 

https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

Has your yearly reading plan ever died in Leviticus? No one likes to read rule books and manuals. Some of these laws seem seriously archaic and irrelevant. Let's take a closer look at why the law is in our bibles. It is actually a large section of scripture that goes through several books. We also are going to look at NT scripture and what Jesus said about the law. Finally, how did Paul guide us to use the law for relationships and not for legalism?

Scripture References:
Jesus says that He fulfills the law: Matthew 5:17
Matthew 22- Jesus comments on the law and gives the “great commandment”

 References:
Bible Project Video on the law: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/law/
Bible Project Video on how to read the law: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/reading-biblical-law/
Further Reading: (The Pentateuch as Narrative by John H. Sailhamer) https://www.amazon.com/Pentateuch-Narrative-Biblical-Theological-Commentary/dp/0310574218/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=580744311329&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9032002&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=108011902167686825&hvtargid=kwd-757346585&hydadcr=8267_13500954&keywords=the+pentateuch+as+narrative&qid=1686890032&s=books&sr=1-1

My website: https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

We are continuing in our look at random things found in scripture. Today we are taking a look at 2 Timothy. Paul asks Timothy to bring him his coat. Why is this errand and personal favor part of God's holy word? 

Our 2 questions:
What does this show us about God's character?
Where is Jesus in this ?

References:
Charles Spurgeon's sermon on the insights of Paul's coat: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/paul-his-cloak-and-his-books/#flipbook/
My website:
https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

What are we supposed to do with the detailed instructions of Exodus? Are we supposed to use them to build a new ark or temple? Why would God keep such minutiae in the Bible?

We can always count on asking 2 questions no matter where we are in scripture:
What does this tell me about God's character?
Where is Jesus (the gospel) in this?

Let's take a look at the details found in the back half of Exodus and see if we can answer both of those questions.

My website:
 https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

We have 4 gospels that account for Jesus Christ's life and ministry, his death and resurrection. Some may see having separate accounts that differ on the details as a burden; I do not! Let's look at how having 4 different accounts is a blessing and an asset. We look at the authors of each and their intention. Then I take a small sample from one story found in each gospel: the feeding of the 5000.

Scripture References:
Matthew 14:13-21
Mark 6:30-44
Luke 9:10-17
John 6:1-14

How do you view the gospels? Do they inspire you to believe or question?

My website:
https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

Season 4 kicks off with genealogies from 1 Chronicles. What are all these seemingly random things in the Bible for?

Today we look specifically at the first 10 chapters of Chronicles. It is a whole lot of names. What can we actually learn about God from all those names? How does this point to the gospel? So many people skip over Chronicles because of the enormous task of the first 10 chapters. It also seems like unnecessarily repeated information. Let's deal with it and see what we can glean from this never-ending list of names.

Resources:
bible app- free app to have scripture read to you!
for apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible/id282935706
for google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sirma.mobile.bible.android&hl=en_US&gl=US

My website:
https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/

I sincerely hope you have been able to start and maybe even finish, writing your testimony. It is an amazing act of worship even if you don't share it. Today I am giving you examples, of my own witness testimony, of taking a 10 min testimony and making it a 2 minute story. This is the most practical to practice and think about. What if, Christians always shared this small testimony when they met someone new. Not the job or the number of kids, but a witness to the savior! 

My testimony talks about Natalie Grant and a few songs she sang. I am linking to the YouTube videos for your enjoyment. I don't own the rights or anything like that but I know that a good worship song can sometimes bring joy from darkness. 
Held: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJhsexd8Qqg
It Is Well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFl-5c5vDgE

My Website: https://www.deborahjmckenzie.com/